Free Debt Advice Charities Compared: StepChange, National Debtline and More

The main free debt advice services at a glance

The table below compares the services most people use first. Numbers and hours were checked against each organisation's own website on 20 October 2026, and they can change.

StepChange Debt Charity

StepChangeStepChange Explained: What It Does and How It WorksWhat the debt charity StepChange offers, how its free debt advice and debt management plans work, who it suits and what to expect when you contact them.Read more → describes its advice as free and impartial, and says the easiest way to start is online. Its website explains a wide range of solutions, including debt management plansDebt Management Plan (DMP)A Debt Management Plan is an informal arrangement to repay unsecured debts at a monthly rate you can afford. Learn how DMPs work, who they suit and what to consider.Read more →, IVAsIndividual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)An IVA is a legally binding agreement to repay a portion of your debts over a fixed period. Understand how IVAs work, eligibility, costs and consequences.Read more →, Debt Relief OrdersDebt Relief Order (DRO)A Debt Relief Order is a formal solution for people with low income, low debt and few assets. Learn how DROs work, eligibility criteria and what happens to your debts.Read more → and bankruptcyBankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal process that writes off most debts when you cannot repay them. Understand how bankruptcy works in the UK, the consequences and alternatives.Read more → for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Debt Arrangement SchemeDebt Help in Scotland and Northern IrelandHow debt solutions and advice differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, including trust deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme, DROs and where to get free help.Read more →, protected trust deeds and sequestration for Scotland. Its main helpline is 0800 138 1111. StepChange warns of longer waiting times when demand is high.

It can be a good first stop if you want a service that can set up certain solutions itself, such as a debt management plan. Read our guide to StepChange for what to expect.

National Debtline

National DebtlineNational Debtline: How It Works, When to CallWhat National Debtline is, who runs it, what it can help with, how to get free advice by phone, webchat or online tools, and what to expect.Read more → is a debt advice service run by the Money Advice Trust, a charity. It says it gives free, impartial and confidential advice, and that its advisers are accredited to the Matrix Standard. It helps you build a budget, explains your options and offers help by phone, webchat and an online service called My Money Steps. The Money Advice Trust says it is funded by a range of organisations including banks, building societies, water companies, energy companies and the Government.

National Debtline covers England, Wales and Scotland, and its advice differs depending on the country you live in. See our guide to National Debtline.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is a wider advice charity, so it can help with debt and with the problems that often sit next to it, such as benefits, housing and consumer rights. In England it runs a dedicated debt helpline (0800 240 4420) as well as webchat for debt problems, and local offices give face-to-face help in many areas. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own Citizens Advice organisations, with their own contact details.

See our guide to Citizens Advice debt help.

PayPlan

PayPlan provides free debt advice by phone (0800 316 1833). It also offers solutions that you may be asked to pay for, and its contact page lists teams for IVAs, Debt Relief Orders and trust deeds. That does not make its advice poor, but it is a reason to ask any adviser, at any firm, whether a recommended solution has fees and whether a free alternative exists. Our guide to free versus paid debt advice explains how to ask.

Other free options worth knowing about

Other organisations also give free debt advice. The Debt Advice Foundation runs a phone and webchat service (0800 043 4050). Christians Against Poverty offers help by phone and face to face (01274 760720). Community Money Advice has local centres. In Scotland, the Scottish Government lists Advice Direct Scotland (0808 196 2316) among its free options, and in Northern Ireland Debt Action NI (0800 915 4604) is part of Advice NI.

MoneyHelper runs a debt advice locator that can help you find free services near you. For small businesses and the self-employed, Business Debtline is free as well.

How to choose between them

There is no single best service. A few practical questions usually settle it.

• When can you talk? Check the hours above. If you can only call in the evening or on a Saturday, StepChange, National Debtline and the Citizens Advice England debt helpline all have longer hours.
• Do you want to start online? StepChange's online advice and National Debtline's My Money Steps are built for this.
• Where do you live? Use a service that covers your nation, because the solutions differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Is it more than a debt problem? Citizens Advice can help with several connected issues in one place.
• Are you self-employed? Business Debtline is designed for you.

What none of them can do

Free advisers can explain your options, help you budget and, in some cases, help you apply for a solution. They cannot guarantee that a creditor will agree to your offer, promise a specific outcome or give you legal representation in court. If you need that, see our guide to legal aid for debt problems.

If you are not happy with the advice you receive, you are free to speak to another service. Getting a second opinion before agreeing to a formal solution such as an IVA is sensible.